Apple famously likes to take its time with most forms of new tech, preferring to be best rather than first, and thats been true of a folding iPhone.The company reportedly hasnt been impressed with the quality of Android models to date, with one issue in particular most bothering the iPhone maker The biggest barrier to a folding iPhoneOne of the biggest complaints about folding phones in general has been a very visible crease in the center of the display when its unfolded. Apple was said to have been particularly unhappy with the aesthetics of this, and has been calling on its display partners to minimize its visibility.That was no small task, given that Samsung is Apples most advanced display supplier, and the Korean company hasnt yet managed to achieve that with its own folding phones.Apple was reportedly so dissatisfied with early samples that it told its suppliers to go back to the drawing board around a year ago.The crease issue has now reportedly been solvedETNews suggests that the problem has finally been solved, with Apple satisfied with the latest display samples received from Samsung.Apple put forward a difficult technical requirement to overcome the weakness of a foldable phone with wrinkles on the folded screen, and it is said that it is close to the desired level.Another industry official said, In order to differentiate itself from the existing foldable phone, Apple decided to eliminate wrinkles regardless of price, and I understand that wrinkles have disappeared with [the latest design].The solution was said to have been achieved through close cooperation between Samsung and Apple hinge supplier Amphenol. The company currently makes MacBook hinges.Oppos latest folding phone lends credibilityLending weight to the idea of a dramatic breakthrough in this area is this months launch of the Oppo Find N5. Our sister site 9to5Google described the crease as a night-and-day difference from even last years Samsung folding displays.The inner screen is a truly massive canvas, and one that goes mostly uninterrupted by the display crease. Its not invisible, but its also hard to see, even at off-angles.It also makes going back to my Galaxy Z Fold 6, the foldable I personally purchased last year, look like a cheap knock-off by comparison. Samsungs deep crease and thick hardware arent inherently terrible, but they feel like a ripoff when you see what foldable technology is actually capable of today.You can see this on the right, with Samsungs Fold 6 on the left:2026 launch now looks likelyThere have been conflicting reports about when the first folding iPhone will launch, with some suggesting 2026 and others 2027.TrendForce said last summer that it was unlikely to launch before 2027, some other sources suggesting the same. However, there appears to be growing consensus that the device may launch next year, including the most recent Bloomberg report.ETNews shares this view, indicating that Apple is aiming to finalize its supply chain by April of this year, a step it generally takes 12-18 months ahead of the scheduled product launch. That suggests a launch in the second half of next year.9to5Macs TakeWe always have to take supply chain sources with a pinch (or larger quantity) of salt, especially at earlier stages, before test production is underway.However, it makes perfect sense that Apple would want to solve one of the ugliest elements of folding phones before its own launch, and Oppo has just demonstrated that the tech has now reached a whole new level.Given that, a 2026 launch now seems entirely credible, as part of the iPhone 18 line-up the iPhone 18 Fold, perhaps.The device is likely to be the most expensive iPhone yet, so may be a relatively niche product by iPhone standards. Would you pay substantially more for a folding iPhone? Please let us know in the comments.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel